Journal of Horace St. Paul
1757: The Advance to Nismes

July 5, 1757

Translated and Edited With Additional Materials By Neil Cogswell


The army upped pickets at first light to go to encamp at Kosmanos, where we established Headquarters. At this village there is a very fine castle, once the property of the House of Czernini but presently belonging to Graf von Hrzau. This castle, and also that at Jung-Bunzlau, have been totally pillaged by the Prussians. The Right Wing of the Reserve Corps, commanded by Graf von Colloredo, passed the Iser at Jung-Bunzlau and advanced in front of Kosmanos to cover the Headquarters.

Order of March from Benatak to Kosmanos

    The army left camp in 8 columns in such a manner that the cavalry of the Right Wing divided itself on leaving the camp, each line marching by its right.

    The cavalry of the Second Line of the Right Wing formed the 1st Column – Regiment Darmstadt marching at the head. They went by the direct road to the camp at Kosmanos passing the villages of Reischitz, Dobrawitz, Teinitz and Dolanka on the way.

    The 2nd Column, composed of the cavalry of the First Line of the Right Wing – Regiment Archduke Joseph at the head, took its route towards Struka, Ober-Aujest, Suschtenitz and Seitschin, between Bezdietschin and the mountain. Then, leaving Jung-Bunzlau to its left, it entered camp at Kosmanos.

    The infantry of the Right Wing similarly marched by the right. That of the Second Line formed the 3rd Column, at the head of which marched the Regiment Lothringen. These troops passed between the wood and the villages across the freshly sown fields. They followed the same route that the Prussians had previously used; leaving the Zelena Inn well to the left, they kept as close as possible to the 2nd Column as far as Jung-Bunzlau. They then marched across the fields to their camping-ground.

    The infantry of the First Line of the Right Wing – Regiment Kaiser at the head, formed the 4th Column. This column ordered its march by keeping just to the left of the 3rd Column in such a way as to be able to encamp behind Jung-Bunzlau without obstructing the columns which marched on its left and right.

    The infantry of the Left Wing also marched by its right, each line separately. The Second Line, of which Regiment Deutschmeister led the way, formed the 5th Column and, leaving the wood to its left, directed its march alongside the tenant farm called Kallaupeck. From there, leaving Brodetz on its left, this column traversed the wood for nearly an hour. It then encamped to the right of the villages of Straschau and Lhotz.

    The 6th Column, composed of the First Line of infantry of the Left Wing, having Regiment Joseph Esterházy at the head, marched to the camp keeping always as far as possible from the high road. It passed through the villages of Kbel, Brodetz and Lhota.

    Regiment Anspach led the 7th Column comprising all the cavalry of the Left Wing. This column marched by its right across the fields skirting the high road that it left for the artillery.

    The Left Wing of the Reserve Corps, which formed the 8th Column, marched by its right along the West Bank of the Iser. It encamped near Klein-Hoscka, Harschau and Stránov.

    Once the 6th Column had filed off, the Artillery of the Reserve joined it and marched on the high road directly to the camp.

    The baggage followed their respective columns.

In its new position, with the town of Jung-Bunzlau in its front, the right of the army extends towards Kosmanos; its left is behind Lhota. Shortly after the arrival of His Royal Highness, we welcomed 28 prisoners captured from the Prussians and 158 deserters; amongst these were 16 Saxons. The deserters reported that the Corps of Prussians, who had previously been at Jung-Bunzlau, is already beyond Hirschberg and continues to march towards Zittau in Lusatia.

Scarcely had General Nádasdy rejoined his Corps yesterday evening, than he gave the order for it to prepare to march. As a result, after having been joined by the 5 battalions of the Reserve and the two regiments of cavalry, his Corps took the road to Mescheno at 10 o'clock in the evening. From there, General Nádasdy will march to Melnik.

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© Copyright 2000 by James J. Mitchell

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